Humans in the World

I just discovered the gorgeous art of Juan Gatti through Phantasmaphile, a favorite website of mine, and wow! What amazing work.

His art captures a feeling I've been having lately, of being no less a part of the growth and decay I see around me. Now that cool weather is finally coming to these parts, I find dead butterflies and moths sometimes on my morning walk. The cold was just too much for them, I guess. There's something fantastical about finding such a beautiful creature, waiting to be discovered. And there's also something heartbreaking about thinking how many little creatures must perish each cold night in the fall.

by Juan Gatti via Michele Filomeno

by Juan Gatti via Michele Filomeno

Click through to see more of his work—each piece is brilliant.

Woman Warrior

Elouise Cobell, via Le Monde

This post is to honor a remarkable woman. Elouise Cobell died last week at the age of 65. She was born on the Blackfeet reservation in 1945 and was one remarkable lady. She successfully sued the US government for mismanaging hundreds of thousands of American Indian trusts. In recognition for her work, she was given the rare honor of receiving an eagle feather—the mark of a warrior—by her people. What an inspiration!

Sacred Space: Right Here

In my part of the world, rolling hills and big sky are reminders of spaciousness (in the loveliest of senses) and possibility. Just driving through the country yesterday was a pilgrimage for me. 

Western Oklahoma Sky, by Nancy Park
via Bold Brush painting competition

What parts of your environment do you find inspiring?

Food for the Soul: Harvest Soup

Polka Dot Pumpkins via ShopTalk
originally via Better Homes and Gardens

One of my favorite things about fall is that all sorts of lovely winter squashes come into season.

The beauty of winter squash is, you really don't need to do a lot to make a tasty dish. They take a while to roast, but they already have lovely, complex flavors.

Here's my favorite squash soup recipe:

1. Quarter two granny smith apples and divide two squash into eight pieces each. (Use butternut for a sweet soup or acorn squash for a more nutty soup.) Roast until soft.
2. Puree.
3. Combine with stock (I like turkey stock), nutmeg, and cinnamon, and give the flavors a chance to meld together.
4. My favorite part: serve with toasted nuts, dried cranberries or cherries, and diced apples. Yum!

Time Traveling

Silvers Welch Road View, by Oldoinyo
via Selah, Selah

Four years ago, I made a fantastic decision, which has sent ripples of joy through my life ever since. 

I've recently discovered that this decisions could be called karmic . . . a kind of perfume that continues in the body and mind beyond a single moment. 

This may be a simple concept for some of you readers, but for me, this view of karma reawakened my sense of responsibility to create my life. 

May we all be blessed with joyful, creative moments.

Be Part of Something Old

Autumn Leaves, by Sandra Dieckmann

"Young friend, be part of something old.

Be home here in the great world, . . .

where forest wants to be your house, . . .

where wee birds carry your wishes far

and sunlight reaches for your hand. . . . "

    —excerpt from "Naknuwisha," by Kim Stafford 

(via High Country News)

What a lovely reminder (post-birthday, for me) that our age is also tied to the much older, ever changing earth. 

The Joy of Pies

Join me in celebrating my birthday with a slice of pie today!

Have you seen the movie Waitress? If you have then you may understand why pies have become symbol of joy and fairy tale endings for me. If you haven't seen it, you should definitely check it out! (And if you get the DVD, you can get pie recipes, too!!)

Keri Russell and Andy Griffith, via the New York Times

Part of what made the movie so lovely was that Jenna (Kerri Russel's character) expressed herself through her pies. There was the "falling in love chocolate mousse pie" and the "naughty pumpkin pie," for example.

"I can't have no affair because it's wrong and Earl would kill me pie"
vanilla custard with banana . . . hold the banana
via Girl in the Afternoon

Coming up to the big 3-0, I'm looking back over the year with some pride and joy for how my life has grown: I've worked on my personal myth project, I've gotten a new job that I'm really excited about, and I've started this blog. I've also had another fairy tale year with my husband. Life is good.

If I made a pie, it would be the "a dream is a wish your heart makes" pie, and it would probably involve a raspberry and strawberry filling topped with honey-flavored meringue.

What about you? What would your pie be?

via Delicious Magazine UK